Student Handbook R & S - University of Maine at Augusta

This office provides many services such as registration, veteran's assistance, immunization information, graduation, transfer affairs, and houses official academic records. Transcripts are ordered through this office, but are not furnished to individuals, other institutions, or prospective employers without the written consent of the student concerned. Transcripts are sent free of charge. Requests for confidentiality of directory information are directed here. Any changes in status (including address, name, course load, etc.) must be reported. Contact: Registrar's Office in Augusta, Admissions and Student Enrollment Services in Bangor.

REGISTRATION

All Augusta degree candidates are encouraged to meet with an advisor prior to registration for courses. All Bangor degree candidates must meet with an advisor prior to registration for courses. Any student who wishes to register for 18 or more credit hours in a semester must have the approval of the college dean. At Bangor, all non-degree students register with the Advising Center or the Office of Admissions and Student Enrollment Services. In Augusta, non-degree students should contact the Advising Center, Enrollment Services Center, or the Registrar’s Office. Contact: college office, academic advisor, Advising Center, Enrollment Services Center or Registrar’s Office in Augusta; Advising Center or Admissions and Student Enrollment Services in Bangor, or center student services coordinator.

REPEATING A COURSE

When a student retakes a course, the most recent grade will be the grade used to compute the grade point average. The previous grade will remain on the record but will not be entered into the computation of the grade point average. Please note: As of July 1, 2011, a federal regulation was established stating students may not receive federal financial aid funding for more than one repetition of a previously passed course. In most cases, a passing grade is defined as D- or higher or P for passing (for pass/fail course grading). A review of repeated courses will generally be completed by financial aid after financial aid has been disbursed and may result in the reduction of financial aid. Please pay attention to repeated courses and contact financial aid if you have questions.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

The University of Maine at Augusta is concerned about the safety and security of its community members and property. Police coverage is provided by the appropriate local police department. In Augusta, concerns or incident reports regarding safety and security issues should be directed to the Office of Administrative Services at 621-3100; in Bangor, contact the Office of Administrative Services at 262-7712. All reports of safety and security concerns or incident reports must be forwarded to the Assistant Director of Administrative Services at Augusta.
In the event of a fire or other emergency, these procedures should be followed when evacuating the building. Be aware of all the marked exits from your area and building. An emergency evacuation plan is posted in all occupied spaces:

Remain quiet and calm.
Close all doors and windows in your area as you leave.
Assist anyone with special needs to the nearest area of refuge (i.e., the area inside a stairway behind a closed fire door).
Walk quickly to the nearest marked exit and ask others to do the same. Do not use the elevators.
Once outside, proceed to the designated regrouping areas and ask others to join you.
Report the names and locations of any individuals who are waiting for assistance to University administrators or to the Fire Chief.
Do not reenter the building. Keep all walkways and roadways clear for emergency vehicles.

Augusta:

Building	Regrouping Area
Jewett Hall	Katz Library Lobby
Katz Library	Jewett Hall Auditorium
Klahr Center	Jewett Hall Auditorium
Fine Arts	Jewett Hall Auditorium
Arts & Architecture	Jewett Hall Auditorium
Modular I & II	Jewett Hall Auditorium
Campus Center	Farmhouse
Robinson Hall	Farmhouse
Stoddard House	Farmhouse
Augusta Civic Center	Farmhouse
Ceramics Studio	Farmhouse
Farmhouse	Campus Center
Randall Student Center	Katz Library Lobby

Bangor:

Building	Regrouping Area
Acadia Hall	College Center Lobby
Eastport Hall	Belfast Hall Library
College Center	Eastport Hall Huskins Lounge
Belfast Hall	Eastport Hall Huskins Lounge
Camden Hall	Fitness Center
Fitness Center	Belfast Hall Library
Lewiston Hall	Belfast Hall Library
Lincoln Hall	Camden Hall
Bangor Hall	Fitness Center

Emergency Phone Numbers:
Augusta: Dial "9" from University extension and "911"
Bangor: Dial "911" from University extension
University College Centers: Dial “911” from Center phones
At Augusta and Bangor, emergency phones are located in parking lots as well as on some buildings. Pressing the button on the pole activates a light at the top of the pole and will automatically place a call to the local Police Department 911 dispatcher in Augusta only. A pre-recorded message is delivered to the dispatcher containing information on the location of the caller. After the message has been delivered, you will have an opportunity to speak directly to the dispatcher. In Bangor, calls are forwarded directly to the City of Bangor dispatcher for police, fire, and ambulance.
Medical Emergency: If it becomes necessary to provide an individual on campus with medical treatment, student, faculty, and administrative staff are advised not to transport the individual to the hospital. The procedure to follow in such an emergency is: Dial "911" and provide information about the individual while assuring protection of the individual's rights. As soon as possible thereafter, notify the appropriate University office listed above.
Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:

When walking, keep to well lit commonly traveled routes.
Avoid shortcuts and dark, isolated areas.
Don't walk alone.
If you have specific safety concerns, i.e., you are protected by a restraining order and would like to discuss strategies you may use to protect your security while taking classes, please contact Kathy Dexter, dean of students at 621-3176 in Augusta, or your local student services staff.
Always lock your car. Do not leave things in plain sight in your vehicle. Look into your car before getting in and relock your doors once inside.
Carry change for emergency calls; 911 is a free call from pay phones.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarship forms are available through the Office of Financial Aid. Scholarships are normally awarded each spring for the following fall. Most scholarships have a spring deadline. The scholarship application form will indicate specific requirements and procedures to follow. There are also financial need scholarships that are awarded as part of the financial aid package. For a listing of scholarships, please see the UMA catalog. Contact the Office of Financial Aid in Augusta for information on scholarships.

SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

UMA complies with all laws that define the rights of individuals with disabilities and makes reasonable efforts to accommodate specific, appropriately documented academic needs. Current documentation by a qualified health care professional may be required if the disability is not readily apparent. Documentation should describe the nature, longevity, and severity of symptoms as well as the functional limitations that the disability causes in the learning process. Students with disabilities may initiate requests for accommodation through the learning support and counseling services staff or student services representative at their campus or center. To ensure the timely availability of accommodations, students must request services well in advance of the start of each semester. See accessibility statement for list of contacts.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND OTHER DISCRIMINATION ISSUES

(See Equal Opportunity)

STUDENT ACCOUNTS

The Office of Student Accounts is responsible for student billing, processing payments, billing of third party sponsorship contracts, payment plans, disbursement of all financial aid refunds, tuition refunds, and applying waivers against student account balances. Appeals for changes in residency status should be submitted to Sheri Stevens, Executive Director of Administrative Services (see Residence Classification Policy). Please contact Student Accounts in Augusta if you have questions about your account; for residency questions, please contact Administrative Services in Augusta. Billing policies, procedures, a schedule of tuition and fees, and other useful information is available.

STUDENT APPEALS

An ad hoc Appeals Committee comprised of appropriate University personnel meets twice a month to review appeals received from students requesting deviation from the standard drop/withdrawal procedures. Students must complete and return the Student Appeals Form, along with required documents. Normally, requests for reversal of tuition and fee charges will be considered for up to 90 days after the close of the semester/session for which the student is claiming a refund. Examples of involuntary appeals, and corresponding required documentation, include:

Entering involuntary to active duty into the armed services: The request for withdrawal must be substantiated with copies of military orders that show proof of date of entry. The individual’s commanding officer or another appropriate official must sign the orders.
Illness of the student or an immediate family member: A physician’s certification on official practice letterhead must be provided stating the student’s of family member’s illness that required the student withdrawal and in the case of student illness, a statement indicating the illness prevented the student from completing course work.
Death of the student or an immediate member of the student’s family: Appropriate documentation must accompany the request for withdrawal.
Involuntary transfer by the student’s employer that precluded continued enrollment (military branches of the service are considered employers under this section): The request for withdrawal must be substantiated by appropriate documentation from the employer.

Every effort is made to apply University policies fairly and consistently. Appeals received pertaining to voluntary withdrawals are less likely to be granted, unless extenuating circumstances (for example, failed technologies) prevail. Students will receive a confirmation indicating receipt of the appeal form and the expected date of review by the Appeals Committee. The student will also receive a written communication indicating the final appeal determination. In accordance with federal financial aid regulations, a reduction in credit hours and charges may often result in a subsequent reduction in aid. Students are encouraged to contact the financial aid office to gain a full understanding of the impacts pertaining to a change in credit hours. Such financial aid calculations due to changes in enrolled credit hours from credit hours used in the calculation of aid award may result in the student owing a balance to the University. The University academic appeals committee hears appeals on academic matters and has no authority to authorize refunds. Administrative dismissals are not covered by this policy and are not entitled to refunds of institutional charges. Contact: Student Accounts in Augusta.

STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS

Student Associations are available at all University College Centers. Both the region’s Student Association (SA) and the University of Maine at Augusta General Assembly (UMA GA) may be active at your outreach center or site. Local Student Associations assure an appropriate balance of activities for all fee-paying students and provide a forum for discussion of local or University College policy issues affecting the quality of the student’s educational experience. The UMA GA represents UMA students taking courses at a distance in discussions of governance issues. Representatives are chosen from this group to represent the entire distant student body at UMA General Assembly meetings. Contact: center student services coordinator.

STUDENT LIFE

All UMA students have access to a series of social, educational, and cultural activities. Such activities are planned in cooperation with the Student Government Association. Musical entertainment, lectures, demonstrations, luncheons, games, and off-campus trips provide a well-balanced program. Students are encouraged to participate in or lead an activity of their choice. Students interested in developing activities or clubs are encouraged to contact the director of student life in Augusta or your campus Student Government Association. Also, check with the Office of Student Life in Augusta or Bangor for tickets to area performances.

RICHARD J. RANDALL STUDENT CENTER

The Richard J. Randall Student Center is situated adjacent to the Bennett D. Katz Library and main classroom buildings and provides students, faculty, and staff with a very special meeting and gathering place. It houses the Bookstore, several lounges and conference rooms, the Moose Tracks Café, offices for the Honors Program, Student Government, student clubs and organizations, Student Life, the Advising Center, and ID Card Services. Many special activities take place at the Randall Student Center such as musical performances, holiday festivities, lectures, discussions, and displays. It also houses PC and synthesizer labs, faculty and staff offices, as well as computer-equipped classrooms and a state-of-the-art lecture hall.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

The SGA is the officially recognized governance group, which represents all UMA students. The SGA allocates the revenues collected from the student activity fee; these fees are used to support activities of a cultural, social, educational, and recreational nature. The Augusta, Bangor, and Distance Education Student Associations represent the student body collectively, each with delegates on the UMA SGA General Assembly. General elections are held in the fall for the Student Representatives; officers are elected in the spring. Contact: director of student life in Augusta/Bangor, your campus SGA or SA, or your center student services coordinator.

STUDY SKILLS

(See Learning Support Services)

Quick Links